Roland Impresses Miracle

Jannon Roland, Not Top Pick Cintia Dos Santos, Will Be In The Starting Lineup Tonight Against Indiana.

May 20, 2000|By Shannon Rose of The Sentinel Staff

Since the WNBA draft last month, almost all of the talk about the Orlando Miracle's new players has centered on Brazilian Cintia Dos Santos.

The center is a bit of a mystery, but her 6-foot-5 frame and soft touch draw plenty of attention. While Dos Santos is getting the hype, forward Jannon Roland has earned a starting spot in the Miracle's first preseason game tonight at West Lafayette, Ind. Orlando plays the expansion Indiana Fever at 8 p.m. at Purdue's Mackey Arena.

For Roland, it's a fitting opener. She returns to Purdue much the way she left in 1997 -- as an instrumental post player on a team trying to break into the elite ranks. She also will play her first game for Magic Coach Carolyn Peck, the former coach at Purdue, and against a couple of former college teammates (Indiana's Stephanie McCarty, Stacy Loveland and Danielle McCulley).

"I'm very excited to go back," said Roland, a 6-1 forward who was the Big 10 Player of the Year as a senior. "It's going to be a big game for me."

The Miracle expect big things out of Roland. Although she wasn't a top draft pick (second round), Roland was considered a sleeper for the second-year club. Obviously, Peck knew what she could get out of Roland.

"She's very similar to Taj McWilliams," said Peck, referring to the Miracle's returning center, who still is playing overseas. "She can play with her back to the basket, or she can pull out. She's a great rebounder and very aggressive."

Jesse Hicks, a 6-4 forward, probably will start at center instead of Dos Santos, who still is trying to catch up after missing the first two weeks of training camp.

"Something that has helped me is that I've had the opportunity to play with almost all of the veterans," said Roland. "It's also been a lot easier for me since I played for Coach Peck"